Vista man denies Carlsbad hate attack

VISTA - An alleged gang member accused of participating in the
racially motivated beating of a 16-year-old boy in Carlsbad pleaded
not guilty Monday to a charge of assault with a deadly weapon.

The assault charge against 18-year-old Michael Adolfo Trujillo
of Vista contains allegations that the attack on the victim was a
hate crime and was committed in association with a criminal street
gang.

Trujillo and five teenage defendants were arrested Thursday for
the beating that occurred earlier this month, Carlsbad police Lt.
Bill Rowland said.

The victim, who is black, was walking along a street in a
residential area in the northern part of the city when he allegedly
was jumped by the teens, Rowland said.

The boy, who Rowland said is not a gang member, suffered
moderate injuries.

The lieutenant said all the suspects - four from Carlsbad, one
from Oceanside and Trujillo - are documented gang members who
allegedly made racial slurs and claimed their gang territory during
the attack.